Switch



4 Sheets-Sheet 1 J; H. KNUTZ ET AL SWITCH Filed Aug. 9, 1940 March 31,1942.

March 31, 1942.

J; H. KNUTZ ET AL. 2,278,322

SWITCH Filed Aug. 9, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 31,1942. J. H. KNUTZ E?AL SWITCH Filed Aug. 9, 1940 4 sheets-sheet 4 INSULATION INSULATIONPatented Mar. 31, 1942 Jay R. Knutz and B usaell H. MacKinnon,

vanston, Ill. Application August 9, 1940, Serial No. 351,978

12 Claims. (01. 200-48) Our invention relates to switches for highvoltage outdoor electrical distribution and transmission lines.

In'rnost instances heretofore, high voltage electrical distributionswitches for use on outdoor circuits above 690 volts have been of one oftwo general classiiiations, the so-called enclosed type of switch whichis the most universally used or the open type of switch.

The enclosed type of switch has contacts,

" blades and connectors, etc., mounted within a single porcelainenclosure. The switches are mounted on a crossarm or pole such that theexposed energized taps, box and blade (in the open position) projecttowards the lineman when he is in position to operate the switch. Theblade in the closed position and the contacts, however, are protectedfrom accidental contact of the lineman operating the switch.

The open type switch has energized contacts, blades, connectors, etc.,which are exposed to contact by the operator. The energized parts aremounted on post or pin type insulators which in turn are mounted on achannel or bracket, or the energized parts are mounted on the two endsof a long post typeinsulator with a bracket clamp attached aroundtheinsulator midway the ends. The switch is mounted on a crossarm or polesuch that the exposed energized parts of the switch and the conductortaps thereto project towards the lineman when he is in position tooperate the switch. Thefollowing defects are inherent in the presenttypes of switch:

1. Hazlmos 'ro LINEMAN OPERATING Swrrcn A. Open type switch The exposedconducting parts including the line" taps are on the same side ofcrossamn as the operator when he opens and closes the switch. Hence hemust take extra precaution in his switching procedure to avoidcontacting theenergized parts which are not practical to cover withconventional safety devices such as rubber hose, hoods and blankets.

B. Closed type switch tact with the blade in the open position. Al-

though the blade is hinged from the porcelain box below the lower switchclip, such so-called dead blades are often energized to near linepotential by leakage from either or both clips to the blade hinge.

The third hazard is in testing, such as "phase flashing" between clipsof the enclosed box. With top and bottom clips energized from separatesources, unusual precautions must be exercised to avoid the possibilityof accidentally causing a short due to the necessarily cramped workingconditions and the lack of any insulating barrier between the two clips.

2. Hazanos 'ro LINEMEN 0a Gunman Woaxmo o.\' Uououoroas 0N Loan SIDE orOPEN Swncnas A. Closed type switch The inside surfaces oi the enclosedswitches often become contaminated within a short time afterinstallation so that leakage is present between the line and load clipswith the blade in the open position. Where a deenergized conductor isrequired such as for cable work, it is necessary to remove one of theconductor taps from each switch or ground the load clip of each switchto eliminate the possibility of leakage to the supposedly deenergizedconductors. Leakage current has been often measured on switches removedafter a short period of service and found to be of suflicient magnitudeto be fatal to man.

B. Open type switch The outside surfaces ofthe insulating members of theopen type switch may become contaminated to such an extent thathazardous leakage may be present between the line and load clips withthe switch blade open. Leakage is reduced by the washing action of rainon the insulators, but with wet and contaminated insulators,considerable leakage may be present unless the channel or bracket isgrounded. Grounding of the channel or bracket, however, increases thehazard to the switch operator due to the proximity of the grounded metalto the exposed energized parts. Hence the usual practice is to operatesimilarly to the closed type switch, that is, remove a tap or ground toload clip of each switch.

8. HAzAaos 'ro LINEMEN WORKING ON Cormvc'rons ABOVE SWITCHES Both theopen type and enclosed type switches extend a considerable distance infront of the arm on which they are mounted. This, togetherwith the sideentrances of tap conductors considerably block the linemans workingspace.

4. BIECHANICAL OBJEOTIONS The projection of the open and the closedtypes of switch in front of the crossarm causes a turn-- ing moment onthe arm which often must be counteracted by bracing, use of two arms orof heavy arms.

One object of our invention is to reduce to a minimum the hazard ofaccidental contact, by the operator, of any energized parts of theswitch and conductor tap by the novel recessed arrangement of thecontact clips (or stud) and conductor tap connector within opposite endsof insulating bushings, and enclosure of blade in an insulator.

Another object is the improvement in saiety to the operator from leakageto the blade in the open position. The combination of the leakagedistance inside the bushings with the outside surface to the bracketreduces the leakage to a min imum and with bracket grounded, completedisconnection is made from the energized parts of the switch, as thegrounded bracket interposes a perfect guard electrode.

A further object is to provide an insulating barrier between clips ofthe switch and between either clip and the mounting bracket to avoid thepossibility of shorting between clips in routine test work such as"flashing of phases.

ent invention.

Another object is to eliminate hazard to men moment on the arm by thesymmetrical mechanical design.

Anotherobject is to eliminate massive porcelain bodies which arediflicult to satisfactorily cast, by use of symmetrical electrical andmechanically balanced structures.

Still another object of this invention is to provide for interconnectingthe line terminals by fusible means.

Other objects of this invention will, in part, be obvious and in partappear hereinafter.

Fbr a more complete understanding of the nature and scope of thisinvention reference may be had to the following detailed descriptiontaken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a view, in front elevation, of the improved form ofdisconnecting switch in the switch open position Figure 2 is alongitudinal sectional view, at an enlarged scale, of the disconnectingswitch shown in Figure l, the switch being shown in the closed position;

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view, at an enlarged scale, taken alongthe line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the contact engaging portionsof the switch blade;

:F mlre 5 is a view, in front elevation, of a combihed disconnect switchand fuse, the support bracket being omitted;

Figure 6 is a detail view, partly in section, taken along the lin 6--6of Figure 5;

aavaeee Figure '7 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly insection of the device shown in Figure 5; and

li-lgure B is a bottom plan view of the device shown in Figure 5.

Referring now particularly to Figure l of the drawings, it will beobserved that the reference character I designates, generally, adisconnecting switch which embodies the features of the pres- Th'edisconnecting switch i is arranged for outdoor mounting on any suitablemeans such as a cross arm 2 that is carried by a pole 3 of conventionaltype. Obviously, the disconnecting switch 9 can be mounted on any othersuitable means well known to those skilled in the art. The disconnectingswitch l is arranged to interconnect a line conductor t and a loadconductor 5. As is customary practice, the line conductor 4 willnormally be continuously energized from the power system while the loadconductor 5 will be energized only when the disconnecting switch i is inthe closed position.

The disconnecting switch i generally comprises a pair of terminalassemblies shown, generally, at 6 and I, respectively, which are carriedat the ends of a bracket or metallic support memher 8. The terminalassemblies 8 and I are arranged to cooperate with a movable switch arm,shown generally at 9, which can be moved from and to a position in whichthe terminal assemblies 6 and I are interconnected. The switch arm 9 iscarried by an insulator H], such as a porcelain insulator, which ispivotally mounted on the bracket or metallic support member 8 in amanner which will be described in detail hereinafter.

As shown more clearly in Figure 2 of the drawings, the details ofconstruction of the terminal assemblies 6 and I are essentially thesame. Reference should also be had to Figure 3 which shows the furtherdetails of construction of these terminal assemblies. Each terminalassembly comprises a tubular insulator II that is preferably formed ofporcelain and is corrugated to improve the electrical insulatingproperties thereof. When the bracket or metallic support member 8 ismounted, as shown, in a vertical position, the tubular insulators l Iwill occupy generally horizontal positions. Each insulator II isprovided with an inwardly projecting central portion I2 intermediate itsends to which a conductor member, shown generally at I3, is clamped. Theopening through the central portion of flange i2 is non-circular and isadapted to receive ribs H on a portion of the conductor member I: forpreventing rotation thereof within the insulator H.

The conductor member I3 comprises a generally rod-like section l5 whichprovides a shoulder against which a washer Ii reacts, the washer i6being arranged to abut a gasket ll, such as a cork washer, whichdirectly engages one face of the central portion of flange l2. A similargasket i8 is provided on the opposite face of the central portion offlange I2 and a sleeve-like nut H, which is threaded on an extension 20of the rod-like section l5, abuts against the same and. when tightenedin place, serves to hold the conductor means I! securely within theinsulator II. It will be observed that the ribs l4 are formed integrallywith the sleeve-like nut 19.

A switch jaw, shown generally at 21, is secured by screws 22 to theother end of the sleevelike nut I9. Each switch jaw comprises severalpairs of contact fingers 23 which are somewhat flexible and which arebiased toward each other by individual rod-like spring I members 24..Each of the contact fingers 23 is provided with an insert 25, Figure 3,of silver or like material which projects inwardly to provide pointcontact engagement with a cooperating part the switch terioration towhich ordinary disconnecting switches of the ope'n'type are subjected.

Each tubular insulator II is clamped intermediate its ends to the endsof the bracket or metallic support member I. The insulator ll forming apart of the upper terminal assembly 6 is secured in place by a generallysemi-circular clamp member 21 having projecting ears, which areapertured to cooperate with similarly aper-.

tured ears integrally formed with the upper end of the bracket orsupport member Bjtor receiving clamp bolts 28. l

Intermediate its ends the bracket or metallic support member 8 maybeprovided with an intermediate clamp section 28 that is generallyrectangular in shape for interfltting with the cross arm 2. Acorrespondingly shaped cooperating clamp 30 is also provided and it maybe secured in place by suitable screws 3|, which are threaded intosuitable threaded apertures in the bracket or metallic support member I.It will be apparent that the bracket or metallic support member I can begenerally channelshaped, as shown, or that it can be otherwise formed asmay be desired.

The insulator il forming a part of the lower terminal assembly 1 isclamped to the bracket or metallic support member I in a manner which issimilar to that previously described for the upper terminal assembly 0.The clamp member 32, having a generally semi-circular portion with"apertured extending ears, is arranged to be secured by bolts 33 to thelower'end oi the bracket or metallic support member 8, Figures 1 and 3oi the drawings.

The clamp member 82 has a screw 34 threaded therein for receiving aground conductor. By this means the bracket or metallic support member Ican be permanently grounded so as to urther reduce the hazard to alineman working on v the circuit connected to the load conductor 5 whenthe switch I is in the open circuit position.

The clamp member 32 is provided with a forwardly curved extension 35whose outer end is slotted and through which a transverse pin 36 extendsfor hingedly mounting a fitting 31 havrelatively rugged and is capableof withstanding the usual shocks to which the switch will be sub-.jected during its life.

A fitting 39 is provided having. a portion .40 which is cemented intothe upper end of the insulator It and another flat portion 4| which issecured by a screw 42 to the lower end of.a conductor I! which serves asthe current carrying means between the switch jaws 2| oi the terminalassemblies 6 and l.

The conductor II is formed of suitable conducting material such ascopper and it is embedded in a covering 44 of insulation, which ispreferably capable of being moulded about the conductor 43. For example,a. phenolic condensation product, such as Bakelite, is well suited forthis purpose. The insulating material M is moulded about the conductor4! so that together they form an integral unit.

The insulation 44 includes a boss 45 having an eye portion 48 forreceiving the prong of a switch stick for operating the movable switcharm from and to the switch closed position.

The ends of the insulation ll embedding the conductor 43 are flanged asindicated at 4,1 and 48 for inter-fitting with the adjacent ends I! and.50 of the insulators ll, Figure 2, so that, when the movable switch arm8 is in the switch closed position, these ends of the insulators Ii aresubstantially completely enclosed.

At each end of the conductor 43 there is an integrally formedswitchblade member II and 52. These switch blade members II and 52 arearranged to interiit with switch jaws II and each is provided with aninsert i3 01- copper, Figure 4, in which is embedded a strip 54 orsilver which, in the switch closed position, as shown in Figure 3, isadapted to engage the inwardly projecting heads oi. the inserts 25 inthe contact fingers 23. In this manner, point contact engagement betweengood conducting non-oxidizable conducting metals is provided. With aviewto latching the movable switch member 9 in the switched closed position,the

switch blade member 5|, Figure 2, is provided being movably mounted, itwill be understood arm 9 forming the base.

that their positions can be reversed. However, since the switch blademembers 5| can be readily formed integrally with the conductor 43, it ispreferable to employ the arrangement shown and described hereinbefore.

The terminal assemblies 6 and I together with the movable switch arm 8provide a generally U-shapedconfiguration with the terminal assemblies 6and I forming the branches and the switch The parts are insulated by theinsulators II and by the covering 44. To open the circuit the base ofthe U comprising the switch arm 9 and the insulating covering 44 inwhich it is embedded is removed from its switch closed position.

It will be apparent that the switch construction shown in Figures 1, 2,3 and 4 of the drawings and described hereinbefore combines theadvantageous features of both the open and the enclosed types ofdisconnecting switches without the at tendant disadvantages of either asset forth hereinbefore. It will be apparent that any surfaces on whichdust is likely to collect are exposed directly to the weather so thatrain will keep them constantly washed clean and will reduceto amlnimumleakage current between the terminal assemblies-B and I whentheswitch is in the opened position. the terminal assemblies 6 and I inthe switch Leakage current between" open position can be eliminatedentirely by connecting a grounded conductor to the bracket or metallicsupport member 8 by the screw 34 as previously described. The bracket ormetallic support member then acts as an effective "guard ring" betweenthe energized line conductor I and the terminal'assembly 8 connectedthereto and the deenergized load conductor and the terminal assembly Iconnected thereto. The tubular insulators ll provide adequate barriersbe- 10 tween the energized parts and the bracket or metallic supportmember I so that no hazard is presented to the operator by groundingthe. latter. The barriers provided by the tubular insulators II alsopermit testing such as flashing of phases" etc. without the possibilityof accidental short circuits between the line and load terminalassemblies I and 1.

Referring now particularly to Figures 5 and 'l of the drawings, it willbe observed that the reference character 62 designates, generally, a

combination disconnecting switch and fuse in which are incorporated manyof the novel fea-- tures that are embodied in the switch construc--'tion as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawlugs and describedhereinbefore;

The combination disconnecting switch and fuse device is provided withgenerally tubular insulators 63 and G4 which are generally similar tothe tubular insulators ii, shown in Figure 2,

and are arranged to be mounted in the same manner. Accordingly, inFigures 5 and '1 of the drawings the parts which would be substantiallyduplicates of those shown and described previously are omitted. Suitablymounted within the tubular insulators 83 and 64 are station-- As shownin,

ary switch members 65 and 66. Figure 6 of the drawings, the stationaryswitch member 85 may comprise a pair of spaced apart plate-like switchmembers. switch member 66 asshown more clearly in the lower portion ofFigure 7, is generally L-shaped.

Also mounted within the lower tubular insulator 64 is a pair of supportmembers 61 having upwardly opening hook shaped end portions 58 forreceiving a pin 69 that extends through a terminal or movable switchmember 10 mounted on the lower end of a fuse tube -'II for pivotallymounting the latter and the parts associated therewith. or movableswitch member 10 is provided with a rearwardly projecting lug I! whichis arranged to engage the down turned end portion 13 of the stationaryswitch member 66.

Enclosing the lower end of the fuse tube Ii to the insulating housing 14by means of suitable 5 screws II, as is more clearly shown in Figure 8of the drawings. I

As its upper end .the fuse tube H is provided with a terminal having atits upper end a screw cap Ii to permit the insertion of a conventionaltype of fuse link 82 with its flexible lead 83. The flexible leadextends from the fuse link 02 through the bore of the fuse tube II andout of its lower end where it islooped over a 75 insulating material;

The stationary 40 It will be noted that the terminal 50 The lower rearportion of 60 i) ing comprising,

means for mounting said support member in a stud '84 extending from theterminal 10 and clamped in place by a clamp nut II.

with a view to detachably mounting the fuse tube II at its upper end,the terminal II is provided with oppositely extending arms or lugs IIwhich are suitably recessed for receiving contact fingers III that arecarried by and depend from a movable switch member '9. It will beobserved that the fuse tube II can be inserted or removed from place byan endwise movement thereof with respect to the contact fingers I.

Themovable switch member I! is provided with an integrally formedrearwardly projecting tongue which, as shown more clearly in Figure 6 ofthe drawings, is arranged to be placed between the pair of plate-likemembers forming the stationary switch member 65. The movable switchmember 88 is mounted by means of screws 9| in an insulating housing 92.The insulating housing 92 is generally circular in shape and is arrangedto substantially completely enclose the metallic parts at the upper endof the fuse tube ll. At its rear portion it is provided with aperipheral groove 93 within which the end portion 94 of the insulator iiprojects so as to provvide a substantially weather tight connectiontherebetween.

The insulating housing 92 has a boss 95 integrally formed therewithwhich is apertured to provide an eye 96 for receiving the prong of aswitch'stick for operating the combination disconnecting switch and fusedevice to the open and closed circuit positions.

It will be understood that the insulating housings H and 92 can beformed of any suitable Since they are intended to be located outdoors,they should be formed of weather resisting materialsuch as a phenoliccondensation product or Bakelite, or other thermo-plastio product.

The combination disconnecting switch and fuse device 62obviously'possesses the advantageous features of the present inventionin either of these forms. That is, as a disconnecting switch, all of themetallic parts are substantially protected from the weather andconsequently are not directly subjected to it. When the device isoperated to the open circuit position with the metallic support membergrounded, there is no possibility of the leakage path being formedbetween the stationary terminals 65 and 65. The same desirable featuresare also present in the fuse construction. As a fuse, it has theadvantageous features of an enclosed fuse and at the same time when itis in the open circuit position it has the advantageous features of theconventional open type fuse in that there is no possibility of a leakagepath being. formed between the-stationary line terminals with themetallic support member grounded.

Since certain further changesmay be made in the foregoingconstructionsand different embodiments of the invention can be madewithout departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all mattershown in the accompanying drawings or described hereinbefore shall beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed as new is:,

1. A disconnecting switch for outdoor mounta metallic support member,

substantially vertical position on a cross arm or the like, tubularinsulators supported intermediate their ends by said support membersubstantially at right angles thereto in spaced relation, conductormeans in each insulator having terminal means at one end for connectionto a line conductor and stationary switch means at-the other end,movable switch means for interconnecting said stationary switch meansmeans on said support member providing a hinge support for said movableswitch means, and insulator means hingedly mounting said movable switchmeans on said hinge support.

2. A disconnecting switch for outdoor mounting comprising, a metallicsupport member, means for mounting said support member in asubstantially vertical position on a cross arm or the like, tubularinsulators supported intermediate their ends by said support membersubstantially at right angles thereto in spaced relation with their endsspaced substantial distances in opposite directions from a verticalplane through the center of the cross arm,'conductor means in eachinsulator having terminal means at one end for connection to a lineconductor and stationary switch means at the other end, movable switchmeans for interconnecting said stationary switch means, and insulating 9means movable with said movable switch means and enclosing the sameexcept for the portions thereof which engage said stationary switchmeans, said insulating means having cup shaped recesses for interflttingwith said insulators so as to overlap the juxtaposed ends of the samewhen said movable switch means is in the closed position whereby saidstationary and movable switch means are completely enclosed fromweather.

3. A disconnecting switch for outdoor mounting comprising, a metalbracket, means inter-' mediate the ends of said bracket for mounting thesame on a cross arm or the like in a sub--, stantially verticalposition, metal clamp means at the upper and -lower ends of saidbracket, a tubular insulator secured intermediate its ends by each clampmeans in a substantially horizontal position, conductor means securedwholly within each said insulator and having terminal means at one endfor connection to a line conductor and stationary switch means at theother end, an extension from the clamp means at said the lower end ofsaid bracket, a post type insulator hingedly mounted on said extension,a switch arm fastened to said post type insulator and movable therewithincluding means at each end for projecting into said tubular insulatorsand interfitting'with said stationary switch means therein forinterconnecting the same, and an insulator sheath enclosing said switcharm except for the portions thereof which engage said stationary switchmeans.

4. A disconnecting switch for outdoor mounting comprising, a metalbracket, means intermediate the ends of said bracket for mounting thesame on a cross arm or the like in a substantially vertical position,metal clamp means at the upper and lower ends of said bracket, a tubularinsulator secured intermediate its ends by each clamp means in asubstantially horizontal position, conductor means secured wholly withineach said insulator and having terminal means at one end stationaryswitch means therein for interconnecting the same, and an insulatorsheath, enclosing said switch thereof which engage said stationaryswitch means, said insulator sheath embedding said switch arm andgenerally conforming to the configuration thereof with the ends facingsaid tubular insulators interfltting therewith to provide asubstantially weather tight enclosure for the live parts of the switch.said insulator sheath having" an integrally formed projecting portionproviding an. eye for engagement by a switch stick for operating theswitch to open and closed positions, said completely disconnecting saidstationary switch means and leaving the same insulated by said tubularinsulators with said metal bracket there-v:

said cross arm and to support said switch mem'- bers substantiallyequidistantly one above and the other below said cross arm therebyproviding a balanced mechanical arrangement thereof with substantiallyequal creepage orstriking distances between said switch members and saidmetallic member, an'extension of said metallic member below the lowerstationary switch member, an insulator hingedly mounted on saidextension, and aswitch member carried'by said insulator and adapted tobe moved therewith into and out of engagement with said stationaryswitch-members for connecting and disconnecting the' same.

6. A switch comprising, a metallic support member, a pair of hollowinsulators carried intermediate their ends in spaced relation by saidsupport member, a stationary switch member at one end of each insulatorand spaced from the walls thereof, line conductor terminal means at theother end of each insulator and spaced from the walls thereof, meansinterconnecting each stationary switch member and its associatedterminal means and clamping the same intermediate the ends of theassociated insulator thereto whereby the creepage paths from eachstationary switch member and terminal means extend over 1 both the innerand outer surfaces of the end portions of the associated insulators, amovable switch member for interconnecting said stationary switchmembers, a body of insulation formed about said movable switch member soas to be substantially integral therewith, and insulator means carriedby said metallic support member {)or'pivotally mounting said movableswitch mem- 7, A switch comprising, a metallic support member, a pair ofhollow insulators carried intermediate their ends in spaced relation bysaid support member, the intermediate portion of the opening in eachinsulator being of reduced diameter as compared to the end portionsthereof, a stationary switch member at one end of each insulator andspaced from the walls"thereof, line conductor terminal means at theother end of each insulator and spaced from the walls thereof, meansinterconnecting each stationary switch member and its associatedterminal means and clamping the same to the intermediate portion of theassociated insulator whereby the creepage paths from each stationaryswitch member and terminal means to said metallic support member extendover both the inner and outer surfaces of arm except for the portionsswitch arm in the open position the end portions of the associatedinsulators, a movable switch member for interconnectingsaid stationaryswitch members, a body of insulation formed about said movable switchmember so as to be substantially integral therewith, and in sulatormeans carried by said metallic support. member for pivotally mountingsaid movable,

ends thereof, said terminal means being spaced from the adjacent wallsof said insulating means whereby the creepage paths from themto saidmetallic support means extend over portions of the inner and outersurfaces of said insulating means, the base portion of said U shapedconducting and insulating means being removable from the remainingportion thereof to permit opening and closing of the circuittherethrough.

9. A disconnecting switch comprising, a metallic support member disposedto be mounted in a substantially vertical position on a cross arm or thelike and having a reentrant intermediate portion for interfltting withthe cross arm so as to locate the end portions of the support memberinwardly of a side of said cross arm toward the center thereof and aboveand below the same, means for clamping said support member to said crossarm, clamp means at the upper and lower end of said support member,tubular insulators" supported intermediate their ends by said clampmeans substantially at right angles to said Support member with theirends spaced substantial distances in opposite directions from a verticalplane through the center ,0! the cross arm, conductor means within eachinsulator having terminal means at one end for connection to a lineconductor and stationary switch means at .the other end, and movableswitch means for interconnecting said stationary switch means.

10. A disconnecting switch comprising, a metallic support memberdisposed to be mounted in a substantially vertical position on a crossarm or the like and having a reentrant intermediate portion forinterfitting with the cross arm so as to locate the end portions of thesupport member inwardly of a side of said cross arm toward the centerthereof and above and below the same, means for clamping said supportmember to said cross arm, clamp means at the upper and lower end of saidsupport member, tubular insulators supported intermediate their ends bysaid clamp means substantially at right angles to said support memberwith their ends spaced substantial distances in opposite directions froma vertical plane through the center of the cross arm, con. ductor meanswithin each insulator having ter minal means at one end for connectionto a line conductor and stationary switch means at the other end,movable switch means for interconnecting said stationary switch means,and means pivotally mounting said movable switch means on said supportmember belcw the lower insulator.

11. A disconnecting switch comprising, a metallic support memberdisposed to be mounted in a substantially vertical position on a crossarm or the like and having a reentrant intermediate portion forinterfitting with the cross arm so as to locate the end portions of thesupport member inwardly of a side of said cross arm toward the centerthereof and above and below the same, means for clamping said supportmember to said cross arm, clamp means at the upper and lower end of saidsupport member, tubular insulators supported intermediate their ends bysaid clamp means substantially at right angles to said support memberwith their ends spaced substantial distances in opposite directions froma vertical plane through the center of the cross arm, conductor meanswithin each insulator having terminal means at one end for connection toa line conductor and stationary switch means at the other end, a movableswitch member for interconnecting said stationary switch means, a bodyof plastic insulating material moulded about said switch member so as tobe substantially integral therewith and embedding substantially all ofit except the portions thereof adapted to engage said stationary switchmeans, and insulator means carried by said support member below thelower insulator for pivotaily mounting said movable switch member.

12. A disconnecting switch for outdoor mounting comprising, a metalbracket, means intermediate the ends ,of said bracket for mounting thesame on a cross arm or the like in a substantially vertical position,metal clamp means at the upper and lower ends of said bracket, a tubularinsulator secured intermediate its ends by each clamp means in asubtsantially horizontal position, conductor means secured wholly withineach said insulator and having terminal means at one end for connectionto a line conductor and stationary switch means at the other end, anextension from the clamp means at said lower end of said bracket, a posttype insulator hingedly mounted on said extension, a switch arm fastenedto said post type insulator and movable therewith including means ateach end for pro jecting into said tubular insulators and interiitting'with said stationary switch means therein for interconnecting the same,and an insulator sheath enclosing said switch arm except for theportions thereof which engage said stationary switch means, saidinsulator sheath embedding said switch arm and generally conforming tothe configuration thereof with the ends facing said tubular insulatorsinteriit'ting therewith to provide a substantially weather tightenclosure for the live parts oi. the switch.

JAY H. KNUTZ. RUSSELL H. MAOKINNON.

